The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 161

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 161: Empty Threats**

[Eveny’s POV]

With a heart full of turmoil, I stormed out of the drawing room, refusing to cast even a fleeting glance at the faces that had become so familiar yet so foreign to me.

The anger coursing through my veins was a potent mix of fury and shame, igniting a fire within me that demanded release. I had to escape.

I needed distance from Samantha and Liam, two figures who had become intertwined with my pain. My emotions were a chaotic storm, swirling and unpredictable, leaving me feeling like a ship lost at sea. My hands were likely bruised and battered from the violent act of smashing that picture frame, yet the numbness enveloped me like a thick fog, dulling any sensation of physical pain.

Pressing my palm against my chest, I felt the weight of my anguish, a pressure that swelled and throbbed around my heart. Deep down, I understood that I was far from ready to confront Samantha. Ironically, she had inflicted the least physical damage of the three, yet her presence was a reminder of the betrayal that cut deeper than any wound.

But guilt was a shared burden in this twisted scenario. Samantha was as culpable as the rest, and the thought of it sent chills down my spine. What terrified me most was the dark, primal urge that simmered beneath my surface, urging me to unleash my pain upon her. If Alexander hadn’t intervened, I might have found myself wielding that shard of glass against her, driven by a desire to make her feel the torment that consumed me.

The mask I wore felt heavier than I had anticipated, a tangible reminder of the facade I was forced to maintain, compounded by the reputation Alexander had crafted for me.

I needed to breathe, to escape the suffocating pressure that constricted my chest.

“Evelyn!”

The sound of Alexander’s voice calling after me only intensified the weight on my heart. I quickened my pace, desperate to retreat to the sanctuary of my room where I could finally shed the mask that felt like a prison.

But Alexander was relentless.

“Evelyn, stop! We need to talk,” he insisted, his tone commanding yet laced with urgency.

“I don’t have the strength for this right now,” I shot back, my voice sharper than I intended.

I felt his hand grasp my forearm, a familiar touch that momentarily halted my escape. I turned to meet his gaze, my eyes narrowing in defiance.

“I said we need to talk,” he reiterated, his expression a mixture of concern and determination.

To my surprise, there was no trace of anger in his eyes; only a deep-seated worry that made my heart ache. They lingered on the mask that obscured my face, a reminder of the battle I was fighting within. Had I even asked him for permission to wear it?

“I told you, I’m not ready to talk,” I replied, my voice trembling slightly.

“Take off that mask,” he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

My throat constricted, a wave of panic rising within me. “No.”

I could see the frustration beginning to bubble beneath his calm facade. Summoning what little strength I had, I broke free from his grip and hurried toward my room, my strides lengthening as I sought refuge.

“Evelyn, I will not let you hide from me like this!” he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. “Goddamnit, stop!”

As I slammed the door behind me and locked it with a decisive click, I could hear the sharp thud of his fist against the wood.

“You’re out of your mind if you think a single fucking door can keep me out!” he cursed, his voice tinged with frustration.

I inhaled sharply, my heart racing, and shouted back, “You break down that door, and I swear I will leave this house!”

There was silence on the other side, and I could sense the weight of his defeated sigh.

“This isn’t over,” he muttered, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down my spine.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify